COLUMBINE. 471 



tipped with black ; beneath, the chin is ashy-grey ; the neck purple 

 glossed, and the upper part of the breast glossy green, blending 

 into ashy light grey on the belly, flanks, and vent; lower wing- 

 coverts white, blending with grey towards the anterior margin of 

 the wino-. 



Bill black; cere grey; irides red; legs pink. Length 12 1 

 inches ; extent 25 ; tail 5. Weight 1\ oz. 



The above description is taken from Major Boys, who procured 

 this Pigeon in Kumaon, where it is known as the pale blue Rock- 

 pigeon. It is also, perhaps, as suggested by Blyth, the Hill-pigeon 

 of Mussooree, which is said in summer to fly in small flocks to 

 the Deyra Doon in the morning, returning to the hills in the 

 evening ; and it is certainly the pied variety of the Blue Pigeon 

 observed by Adams in Ladak, &c. Pallas' bird is said to be found 

 in Central Asia, in Daouria, in hilly and rocky places. Speci- 

 mens of this race of Pigeon appear to be unknown in most of our 

 Museums, and would be highly acceptable. 



Among the races allied to the two foregoing, are C. livia of the 

 whole of Europe, Northern Asia to Japan, and Northern Africa, 

 which breeds in extensive societies in rocky cliffs and caverns, 

 especially on the seashore. It is said to feed much on the tops 

 of plants, and also on Helices. It is the origin of most of the varie- 

 ties of domestic Pigeons of Europe. Bonaparte separates from it 

 C. turricola, of the South of Europe, Persia, &c, which wants the 

 white rump of livia, and should, therefore, very closely approach 

 the Indian intermedia. C. Schimperi, Bonaparte, found in very 

 numerous flocks in the fields in Abyssinia, and perhaps C. gymnoph- 

 tlialmos, Gray, from Senegal, also appertain to this division. 



The next bird differs considerably from all the others. 



790. Columba leuconota, Vigors. 



P. Z. S. 1831— Gould, Cent. Him. Birds, pi. 59— Blyth, 

 Cat. 1418 — ' The Snow-pigeon' of some sportsmen on the Himalayas, 

 or Imperial Bock-pigeon of others. 



The White-bellied Pigeon. 

 Descr. — The top of the head and ear-coverts ashy-black ; back 

 of neck white ; interscapulars light brownish grey ; rump white ; 



